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Council adopts policy to prioritize water and sewer hookups for lower‑income housing
Summary
The council adopted Resolution 2025-07 to establish written procedures prioritizing water and sewer service for developments that include housing affordable to lower‑income households, and staff said the program has no immediate budgetary impact.
City planner Jessica Hankins presented a staff recommendation and two resolutions intended to implement elements of the city’s housing element, including a policy that grants priority for water and sewer service to proposed developments that include housing affordable to lower‑income households.
"Staff is recommending that city council establish procedures to grant priority for water and sewer to proposed development that includes housing affordable to lower income households," Hankins said, describing the measure as required by state law and consistent with the city's existing approaches. She also told the council staff would pursue a 50% reduction in connection fees for affordable units in the upcoming biannual budget.
Councilmember (speaker5) moved to adopt Resolution 2025-07; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. Councilmembers discussed that current connection fees are well below true replacement costs and noted no residential permits were issued in 2024, so additional incentives may be needed beyond the priority policy to spur affordable housing production.
The council recorded that the adopted policy alone carries no immediate budgetary impact and that staff will report the action in the housing element annual progress report to state agencies.
